Wallet

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A trifold wallet with pockets for notes and cards, and a window to display an identification card WalletMpegMan.jpg
A trifold wallet with pockets for notes and cards, and a window to display an identification card

A wallet is a flat case or pouch, often used to carry small personal items such as physical currency, debit cards, and credit cards; identification documents such as driving licence, identification card, club card; photographs, transit pass, business cards and other paper or laminated cards. Wallets are generally made of fabric or leather, and they are usually pocket-sized and foldable.

Contents

Wallets may include a money clip, coin purse, chain fastener, strap, snap, rein, or zipper. There are specialized wallets for holding passports, wearable ID cards, and checkbooks. Some unusual wallets are worn on the wrist or shoe. Wallets may be used as a fashion accessory, or to demonstrate the style, wealth, or social status of the owner.

Etymology

The word originated in the late 14th century, meaning "bag" or "knapsack", from uncertain origin (Norman-French golette (little snout)?), or from similar Germanic word, from the Proto-Germanic term "wall", which means "roll" (from the root "wel", meaning "to turn or revolve." [1] (see for example "knapzak" in Dutch and Frisian). The early usage by Shakespeare described something that we would recognise as more like a backpack today. [2] The modern meaning of "flat case for carrying paper money" is first recorded in 1834 in American English. [1]

The ancient Greek word kibisis, said to describe the pouch carried the god Hermes and the sack in which the mythical hero Perseus carried the severed head of the monster Medusa, has been typically translated as "wallet". [3] [4]

History

Aleutian Wallet for carrying tackle Aleutianwallet.gif
Aleutian Wallet for carrying tackle

Ancient Greece

The classicist A. Y. Campbell set out to answer the question, "What...in ancient literature, are the uses of a wallet?" He deduced, as a Theocritean scholar, that "the wallet was the poor man's portable larder; or, poverty apart, it was a thing that you stocked with provisions." [5] He found that sometimes a man may be eating out of it directly but the most characteristic references allude to its being "replenished as a store", not in the manner of a lunch basket but more as a survival pack.

Renaissance

Wallets were developed after the introduction of paper currency to the West in the 1600s. (The first paper currency was introduced in the New World by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1690.) Prior to the introduction of paper currency, coin purses (usually simple drawstring leather pouches) were used for storing coins. Early wallets were made primarily of cow or horse leather and included a small pouch for printed calling cards.[ citation needed ]

In recounting the life of the Elizabethan merchant, John Frampton, Lawrence C. Wroth describes the merchant as, "a young English-man of twenty-five years, decently dressed, ..., wearing a sword, and carrying fixed to his belt something he called a 'bowgett' (or budget), that is, a leathern pouch or wallet in which he carried his cash, his book of accounts, and small articles of daily necessity". [6]

19th century

A mid-19th century wallet or pouch made of leather Pouch or wallet (AM 610060-3).jpg
A mid-19th century wallet or pouch made of leather

In addition to money or currency, a wallet would also be used for carrying dried meat, victuals, "treasures", and "things not to be exposed". Wallets originally were used by early Industrial Americans. It was considered "semi-civilized" in 19th century America to carry one's wallet on one's belt. At this time, carrying goods or a wallet in one's pocket was considered uncivilized and uncommon. [7]

In Spain, a wallet was a case for smoking paraphernalia: "Every man would carry a small sheaf of white paper in addition to a small leather wallet which would contain a flint and steel along with a small quantity of so-called yesca, being a dried vegetable fibre which a spark would instantly ignite." [8]

20th century–present

A WW I era wallet and its contents Wallet (AM 613844).jpg
A WW I era wallet and its contents

The modern bi-fold wallet with multiple "card slots" became standardized in the early 1950s with the introduction of the first credit cards. Some innovations include the introduction of the velcro-closure wallet in the 1970s. Pocket-sized wallets remain popular to this day. [9]

For cryptocurrencies that only exist in cyberspace as entries in some online ledger, a "cryptocurrency wallet" is a computing tool whose purpose is to securely keep the owner’s secret key, to authenticate the owner, and to let the owner sign transactions securely. A "hardware wallet" is a single purpose computer to do this even more safely.

Contemporary examples

A large wallet attached with a leather cord or magnet Kyle's Wallet (4081125688).jpg
A large wallet attached with a leather cord or magnet

Wallets are usually designed to hold banknotes and credit cards and fit into a pocket or handbag. Small cases for securing banknotes which do not have space for credit cards or identification cards may be classified as money clips: this may also be used to describe small cases designed to hold ISO/IEC 7810 cards alone.

Breast wallet
Also called a "secretary wallet", this is a wallet in which banknotes are not folded. They are intended for men's breast pocket in a jacket, or for a handbag. Breast wallets will often hold cheques and other monetary documents as they are too large for storage in a pants pocket.
Bi-fold wallet
a type of wallet in which the banknotes are folded over once. Credit cards and identification cards may be stored horizontally or vertically.
Tri-fold wallet
a wallet with two folds, in which credit cards are generally stored vertically.
Front pocket wallet
a case with no currency compartment and very few pockets for cards. Usually banknotes are folded and held in a wallet compartment.
Money clip wallet
similar to a front pocket wallet in terms of size, with banknotes usually held in by a clip secured by a strong magnet.
Long wallet
a larger wallet typically worn with jeans, fastened by a chain, strap, or leather band. Bills are held flat, and long wallets typically have a coin purse. Popularized by bikers to secure their wallets while riding a motorcycle, smaller chained wallets became popular in 1970s−'80s punk fashion and in the early 1990s with the grunge fashion movement as well as heavy metal fashion. Long wallets are popular with men in cash-based countries like Japan and may reflect Native American aesthetic influence.
Wallet band
a type of wallet that uses a continuous elastic band, made of fabric or rubber, to secure cards and/or cash. Wallet bands reduce the bulk of a traditional wallet.
Wristlet
a type of wallet that can be secured to the wrist, to keep one's hands free.
Travel wallet
used by travelers to hold essential documentation together, such as passports, tickets, boarding passes, foreign currency, traveler's cheques, itinerary, travel insurance, hotel booking information, and other similar items.
ID case/neck pouch
thin nylon or leather cases with plastic see-through compartments designed to hold an ID card. Usually worn around the neck, many have extra pockets for holding small items, hence they also function as wallets.
Shoewallet
a small pouch attached to a shoe to be used as a wallet. Designed primarily to be worn during exercise.
Digital wallet
a computer file for maintaining digital currency.
Cryptocurrency wallet
a digital wallet where private keys are stored for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Hardware wallet
a cryptocurrency wallet built as a separate physical device which identifies the owner, and lets the owner sign online transactions in a secure manner.
Side by side wallet
divides the contents into two stacks instead of one, so it is half as thick. May be made of very thin fabric. Patented.[ further explanation needed ][ citation needed ]
L-Zip wallet
a rectangular shaped wallet with a zipper that runs along 2 sides of the wallet.
Metal wallet
a slim wallet made from metal, usually aluminum or titanium. Can be found combined with other materials such as wood or leather.
Credit card holder
a rectangular shaped wallet for holding credit cards.
Cardholder zip wallet
a rectangular shaped wallet with a zipper for coins and credit cardholder.
Checkbook
a wallet that can hold standard-sized cheques
Envelope
a long wallet that has features similar to an envelope with a covering flap.
Automatic wallet
a wallet with a mechanism that ejects inserted cards with a button to display them for use. Also known as a pop-up or cascading wallet.
Tactical wallet
a functional wallet that incorporates a ruler, small saw, knife, bottle opener, or other tools. It is a thin, wallet-sized multitool, with similarities to a Swiss army knife.
An RFID signal-blocking slim wallet ZNAP Kartenetui (Slimpuro) 01.jpg
An RFID signal-blocking slim wallet
RFID blocking wallet
a wallet acting as a faraday cage around proximity-sensing enabled cards. Can block NFC & RFID signals, preventing portable RFID readers from reading sensitive data.

Materials

A leather wallet Aarong leather wallet.jpg
A leather wallet

The traditional material for wallets is leather or fabric, but many other flexible flat sheet materials can be used in their fabrication. Non-woven textiles such as Tyvek are used, sometimes including reuse of waterproof maps printed on that material. Woven metals, such as fine mesh made of copper or stainless steel have been incorporated into wallets that are promoted as having electromagnetic shielding properties to protect against unauthorized scanning of embedded NFC & RFID tags. Do-it-yourself websites such as Instructables feature many projects for making wallets out of materials such as denim, Kevlar, or duct tape.

Regional differences

A Japanese wallet with a coin purse Japanese Wallet.JPG
A Japanese wallet with a coin purse

Some wallets, particularly in Europe where larger value coins are prevalent, contain a coin purse compartment. Some wallets have built-in clasps or bands to keep them closed. As European banknotes, such as euros and pounds, are typically larger than American banknotes in size, they do not fit in some smaller American wallets.

Metaphorical usage

A poster seeking innovative suggestions tells readers "An Idea May Mean Wealth In Your Wallet". An Idea May Mean Wealth In Your Wallet^ - NARA - 534155.tif
A poster seeking innovative suggestions tells readers "An Idea May Mean Wealth In Your Wallet".

The term wallet is also used as a synecdoche to refer to an individual's overall personal budget. One of the definitions of "syndecdoche", by Sasse, uses a wallet reference as an example of the meaning of the term ("an abbreviated speech in which the containing vessel is mentioned instead of its contents"), such as when a person holds up their wallet to a person asking for money, while saying "here is $100". [10] A wallet is also used as an example in a definition for the related rhetorical device of metonymy: "If we cannot strike offenders in the heart, let us strike them in the wallet." [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

A currency is a standardization of money in any form, in use or circulation as a medium of exchange, for example banknotes and coins. A more general definition is that a currency is a system of money in common use within a specific environment over time, especially for people in a nation state. Under this definition, the British Pound sterling (£), euros (€), Japanese yen (¥), and U.S. dollars (US$) are examples of (government-issued) fiat currencies. Currencies may act as stores of value and be traded between nations in foreign exchange markets, which determine the relative values of the different currencies. Currencies in this sense are either chosen by users or decreed by governments, and each type has limited boundaries of acceptance; i.e., legal tender laws may require a particular unit of account for payments to government agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cash</span> Physical money

In economics, cash is money in the physical form of currency, such as banknotes and coins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backpack</span> Bag carried on ones back

A backpack—also called knapsack, rucksack, pack, booksack, bookbag, haversack or backsack—is, in its simplest frameless form, a fabric sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders; but it can have an external or internal frame, and there are bodypacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banknote</span> Form of physical currency made of paper, cotton or polymer

A banknote—also called a bill, paper money, or simply a note—is a type of negotiable promissory note, made by a bank or other licensed authority, payable to the bearer on demand. Banknotes were originally issued by commercial banks, which were legally required to redeem the notes for legal tender when presented to the chief cashier of the originating bank. These commercial banknotes only traded at face value in the market served by the issuing bank. Commercial banknotes have primarily been replaced by national banknotes issued by central banks or monetary authorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pocket</span> Small compartment in clothing

A pocket is a bag- or envelope-like receptacle either fastened to or inserted in an article of clothing to hold small items. Pockets are also attached to luggage, backpacks, and similar items. In older usage, a pocket was a separate small bag or pouch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money belt</span>

Money belts are belts with secret compartments, often worn by tourists. One form of money belt is a belt with a pouch attached to the front which is worn under a shirt to protect valuables from thieves and pickpockets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby sling</span> Fabric item designed to carry a child on the body

A baby sling or baby carrier is generally made of soft fabrics that wrap around the chest. They provide comfort and support for the baby and allow the parent or carer to keep their hands free as they go about their everyday tasks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handbag</span> Handled bag used to carry personal items

A handbag, commonly known as a purse in North American English, is a handled medium-to-large bag used to carry personal items. It has also been called a pocketbook in parts of the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital currency</span> Currency stored on electronic systems

Digital currency is any currency, money, or money-like asset that is primarily managed, stored or exchanged on digital computer systems, especially over the internet. Types of digital currencies include cryptocurrency, virtual currency and central bank digital currency. Digital currency may be recorded on a distributed database on the internet, a centralized electronic computer database owned by a company or bank, within digital files or even on a stored-value card.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Briefcase</span> Narrow hard-sided box shaped bag or case used to equip materials

A briefcase is a narrow hard-sided box-shaped bag or case used mainly for carrying papers and equipped with a handle. Lawyers commonly use briefcases to carry briefs to present to a court, hence the name. Businesspeople and other white collar professionals also use briefcases to carry papers, and since the 1980s, electronic devices such as laptop computers and tablet computers. Some briefcases have only a main internal space, while others may have subsections, accordion sections, small pockets, or dividers. Briefcases may be made from leather, vinyl, durable fabric, thin metal, or plastic. Leather, vinyl, or fabric briefcases may have externally-accessible pockets or sleeves in addition to the main storage space. Some briefcases made of fabric may have a shoulder strap. Briefcases typically have a lock to protect the contents. Nowadays, briefcases may have padded internal pouches to protect laptop computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fanny pack</span> Small fabric pouch worn like a belt

A waist bag, fanny pack, belt bag, moon bag, belly bag, or bumbag is a small fabric pouch worn like a belt around the waist by use of a strap above the hips that is secured usually with some sort of buckle. The straps sometimes have tri-glide slides, making them adjustable in order to fit properly. It can be considered as a purse worn around the waist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money clip</span> Device typically used to store cash and credit cards

A money clip is a device typically used to store cash and credit cards in a very compact fashion for those who do not wish to carry a wallet.

A private currency is a currency issued by a private entity, be it an individual, a commercial business, a nonprofit or decentralized common enterprise. It is often contrasted with fiat currency issued by governments or central banks. In many countries, the issuance of private paper currencies and/or the minting of metal coins intended to be used as currency may even be a criminal act such as in the United States. Digital cryptocurrency is sometimes treated as an asset instead of a currency. Cryptocurrency is illegal as a currency in a few countries.


A contactless smart card is a contactless credential whose dimensions are credit card size. Its embedded integrated circuits can store data and communicate with a terminal via NFC. Commonplace uses include transit tickets, bank cards and passports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coin purse</span> Small pouch made for carrying coins

A purse or pouch, sometimes called coin purse for clarity, is a small money bag or pouch, made for carrying coins. In most Commonwealth countries it is known simply as a purse, while "purse" in the United States usually refers to a handbag. An obsolete variant is a porte-monnaie. "Purse" can also be a synonym to bursary, i.e. a monetary prize in a competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Money bag</span> Bag or sack used to hold money or gold

A money bag is a bag normally used to hold and transport coins and banknotes, often closed with a drawstring. When transported between banks and other institutions, money bags are usually moved in armored cars or money trains. It is a type of currency packaging. Money bags are often portrayed in cartoons and other light popular culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Currency packaging</span>

Currency packaging includes several forms of packing cash for easy handling and counting. Many systems use standard color-coding or are marked to indicate the amount in the package.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bag</span> Flexible container

A bag is a common tool in the form of a non-rigid container, typically made of cloth, leather, paper or plastic. The use of bags predates recorded history, with the earliest bags being lengths of animal skin, cotton, or woven plant fibers, folded up at the edges and secured in that shape with strings of the same material. Bags can be used to carry items such as personal belongings, groceries, and other objects. They comes in various shapes and sizes, often equipped with handles or straps for easier carrying.

A cryptocurrency wallet is a device, physical medium, program or an online service which stores the public and/or private keys for cryptocurrency transactions. In addition to this basic function of storing the keys, a cryptocurrency wallet more often offers the functionality of encrypting and/or signing information. Signing can for example result in executing a smart contract, a cryptocurrency transaction, identification, or legally signing a 'document'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hebao</span> Chinese embroidery pouches

Hebao, sometimes referred as Propitious pouch in English, is generic term used to refer to Chinese embroidery pouches, purses, or small bag. When they are used as Chinese perfume pouch, they are referred as xiangnang, xiangbao, or xiangdai. In everyday life, hebao are used to store items. In present-days China, xiangbao are still valued traditional gifts or token of fortune. Xiangbao are also used in Traditional Chinese medicine.

References

  1. 1 2 "Online Etymology Dictionary entry for "wallet"". Archived from the original on 2007-12-24. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  2. "ShakespearesWords.com". www.shakespeareswords.com. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  3. "CTCWeb Glossary: K". Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  4. Apollodorus (1921). "Perseus". In Frazer, James G (ed.). Bibliotheca (Pseudo-Apollodorus). Vol. 2. London: W. Heinemann.
  5. Campbell, A. Y. (April 1931). "The Boy, the Grapes, and the Foxes". The Classical Quarterly. 25 (2): 91. doi:10.1017/S0009838800013501. JSTOR   637006. S2CID   171946559.
  6. Wroth, Lawrence C. (August 1954). "An Elizabethan Merchant and Man of Letters". Huntington Library Quarterly . 17 (4): 301–302. doi:10.2307/3816498. JSTOR   3816498.
  7. Mason, Otis T. (January 1889). "The Beginnings of the Carrying Industry". American Anthropologist . A2 (1): 21–46. doi: 10.1525/aa.1889.2.1.02a00030 .
  8. Cushing, Caroline E. W. (1832). "Letter XIV". Letters: Descriptive of Public Monuments, Scenery & Manners in France & Spain. Vol. 2. Newburyport, MA: Allen. OCLC   8401193. Archived from the original on 2017-05-07.
  9. "A Brief History of Wallets and The People Who Own Them". Brave Soles Life. 2019-02-20. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  10. Robert Kolb, Irene Dingel, and Lubomír Batka. The Oxford Handbook of Martin Luther's Theology. OUP Oxford, 2014. p. 328
  11. "Tropes". /web.cn.edu. Dr. Wheeler. Retrieved 3 April 2020.